Methods and apparatus for processing audio signals

Abstract

Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of transmitting an audio signal through bone, comprising:
 positioning a housing in a mouth of a user such that a first transducer is positioned in communication with a first tooth surface and a second transducer is positioned in communication with a second tooth surface, wherein the housing is configured to contact the first and second tooth surfaces via an interference fit; 
 receiving an audio signal via at least a first microphone; 
 filtering the audio signal into at least a first frequency range and a second frequency range; 
 vibrating the first transducer to transmit the first frequency range through the first tooth surface; and 
 vibrating the second transducer to transmit the second frequency range through the second tooth surface, wherein the first and second transducer are selectively powerable on or off depending on a quality of the audio signal to be transmitted to the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving comprises receiving the audio signal via the first microphone positioned intra-buccal to the user. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering comprises filtering the first and second frequency ranges such that each range overlaps with respect to one another. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering comprises filtering the first and second frequency ranges such that each range is separate from one another. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering comprises filtering the audio signal by two or more filters. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering comprises filtering the first frequency range to have a lower relative frequency range compared to the second frequency range having a higher relative frequency. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering comprises filtering the audio signal such that the first frequency range is from 200 Hz to 2000 Hz. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein filtering comprises filtering the audio signal such that the second frequency range is from 2000 Hz to 10,000 Hz. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering comprises altering the first and/or second frequency ranges. 
     
     
       10. A method of transmitting an audio signal through bone, comprising:
 positioning a housing onto at least one tooth of a user such that a first transducer is positioned in communication with the at least one tooth and a second transducer is positioned in communication with the at least one tooth; 
 receiving an audio signal via at least a first microphone; 
 filtering the audio signal into at least a first frequency range and a second frequency range; 
 vibrating the first transducer to transmit the first frequency range through the at least one tooth; and 
 vibrating the second transducer to transmit the second frequency range through the at least one tooth, wherein the first and second transducer are selectively powerable on and off depending on a quality of the audio signal to be transmitted to the user. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein receiving comprises receiving the audio signal via the first microphone positioned intra-buccal to the user. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein filtering comprises filtering the first and second frequency ranges such that each range overlaps with respect to one another. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein filtering comprises filtering the first and second frequency ranges such that each range is separate from one another. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  wherein filtering comprises filtering the audio signal by two or more filters. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10  wherein filtering comprises filtering the first frequency range to have a lower relative frequency range compared to the second frequency range having a higher relative frequency. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10  wherein filtering comprises filtering the audio signal such that the first frequency range is from 200 Hz to 2000 Hz. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein filtering comprises filtering the audio signal such that the second frequency range is from 2000 Hz to 10,000 Hz. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10  wherein filtering comprises altering the first and/or second frequency ranges. 
     
     
       19. A method of transmitting an audio signal through bone, comprising:
 providing an apparatus comprising a housing, a first transducer, and a second transducer, wherein the housing is biased to press against at least one tooth of the user to secure the apparatus to the at least one tooth, and wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are positionable within a mouth of the user; 
 positioning the housing onto the at least one tooth of a user; 
 receiving an audio signal via a microphone; 
 filtering the audio signal; and 
 vibrating the first transducer against the at least one tooth of the user to transmit the audio signal in a first frequency range into the at least one tooth and through the bone of the user, wherein the first transducer is selectively powerable on or off based on activity of the user, wherein a second frequency range is a higher frequency range than the first frequency range, wherein the second transducer is selectively powerable on and off when higher frequency signals are not desired, and wherein the second transducer is selectively powerable on or off independently of the first transducer. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first and second transducer are selectively powerable on or off to provide the user with a perception of a louder sound. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first and second transducer are selectively powerable on or off based on activity of the user. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 10  wherein the first and second transducer are selectively powerable on and off to provide the user with a perception of a louder sound, and wherein the first and second transducer are selectively powerable on and off based on activity of the user. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 19  further comprising vibrating the second transducer and vibrating a third transducer. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first transducer is selectively powerable on or off independently of the second transducer. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second frequency range is a higher frequency range than the first frequency range, and wherein the second transducer is selectively powerable on or off when higher frequency signals are not utilized. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first transducer is selectively powerable on or off independently of the second transducer.